Machine for producing rolls of bakery products

ABSTRACT

A machine assembly for producing lengthy rolls of bakery products such as biscuits and the like, wherein the machine includes an inlet work station having a device for forming a plurality of separate bars of dough and the machine also includes an outlet work station having a device for forming a continuous spiral in each of the bars of dough with the spirals interlocking to form a braided roll of dough. The machine assembly further includes a conveyor assembly for transporting the bars of dough between the inlet and outlet work stations while kneading and rolling the bars into their final configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an assembly of the typeemployed in the manufacture of bakery goods and the like. In particular,the present invention is directed to a uniquely constructed machine forsystematically producing relatively lengthy, braided rolls of dough formaking biscuits or the like.

One of the factors which often significantly affects the commercialsuccess or failure of a product is the particular manner in which theproduct is packaged. In recent years, packaging has also come to play asignificant role in the sale of food products. For example, it hasbecome increasingly popular to produce braided rolls of certain foodproducts, such as biscuits or the like. Initially, a plurality ofseparate bars of biscuit dough were usually manually interwoven into asingle roll in a complicated and time-consuming procedure. Moreimportantly, the human factor introduced by manual weaving of the doughbars often made it difficult, if not impossible, to uniformly producesubstantially identically sized rolls of identical configuration.

In an attempt to overcome the various problems associated with manualweaving or braiding of a plurality of separate dough bars, it wassuggested that a machine be constructed for automatically weaving thebars of dough. Such a machine was suggested in German applicationPublication DOS No. 2,161,039, wherein a relatively complicatedmechanism was suggested for weaving separate dough bars, but, provedless than satisfactory in failing to provide uniformly sized dough bars.Rather, such a machine as suggested hereabove in the German applicationDOS No. 2,161,039 tended to produce dough bars of unequal thicknesseswhich would tear on even break during the weaving process. As a result,it was often impossible to create the lengthy rolls of braided doughnecessary for manufacturing biscuits or the like.

As will be explained in detail hereafter, the present invention providesa machine which overcomes the types of problems discussed hereabove, aswell as additional problems which confront prior art machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a machine assemblyis provided for forming, transporting and braiding or weaving two ormore separate bars of dough into a continuous roll of braided doughadaptable for forming biscuits or the like. In particular, the machineassembly includes an inlet station having a dressing device forselectively forming at least one and preferably a plurality of separatedough bars and for depositing each dough bar onto a uniquely arrangedconveyor assembly. The conveyor assembly functions to transport thedough bars through the machine while simultaneously working each doughbar into its substantially final shape. The conveyor assembly depositsthe spaced bars of dough into a braiding or weaving device arranged at afurther outlet station of the machine assembly; which braiding deviceselectively interlocks the separate bars of dough into a continuouslybraided roll of biscuit dough which can be later be cut into specifiedlengths. A distinctive feature of the present invention is the action ofthe conveyor assembly in stretching and kneading each dough bar into itssubstantially uniform shape as it is transported between the dressingand braiding devices.

A further conveyor assembly transports the braided roll from thebraiding device, with the further conveyor preferably sloped verticallydownwardly from the braiding device to ensure a proper spiral ismaintained in the braided roll. The speed of each conveyor assembly isselectively adjustable to maintain proper feed rates for the dough bars,with portions of the conveyor assembly being adjustable to compensatefor the natural tendency of the dough bars to stretch and becomethinner. Furthermore, portions of the conveyor assembly are selectivelyvertically adjustable to adjust the direct pressure of confrontingportions of the conveyor on the bars of dough passing therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be best understood with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein;

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a machine assembly formed in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the machine assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic front view of a portion of the machine assemblyof FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a blow up of a portion of the machine assembly shown inFIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 shows a top view of that portion of the machine assembly shown inFIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the present invention is to be read inconjunction with the attached drawings wherein, similar apparatus arereferred to and are indicated by similar reference numerals.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a machine assembly formed in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed in detail. The machine assembly includes an outstretchedframework 1 and a plurality of spaced, feet-like support members 2, eachof which extends from framework 1 into contact with a conventionalsupport surface, not shown for purposes of simplicity. In the preferredembodiment, support feet 2 are formed of steel beams. However, it isconsidered within the scope of the present invention to employ anyconventional material either metallic or otherwise in forming thesupport feet.

An inlet station of the machine assembly includes a dressing device 3which is conveniently arranged at an end of the machine assembly as bestshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Dressing device 3, in turn, includes at leastone, and preferably a plurality of separate nozzle-like mouthpieces,with two of the nozzles each designated by a numeral 4 in FIG. 2.Biscuit dough or the like is conveniently introduced into dressingdevice 3 through a funnel-shaped inlet, with a separate bar of doughselectively ejected from dressing device 3 through each nozzle-likemouthpiece 4. As shown in FIG. 1, an electric motor may be arranged forpowering dressing device 3 through a pulley or the like.

A pair of conveyor assemblies 5 are each supported by framework 1, witheach conveyor assembly 5 having a portion passing beneath one of thenozzle-like mouthpieces 4. Each conveyor 5 is inclined in a verticallyupwardly direction away from that portion of framework 1 which forms theinlet station including dressing device 3. In other words, each conveyor5 forms a substantially acute angle with a horizontally extendingportion of framework 1. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment,conveyor assemblies 5 extend substantially parallel to one another, witheach conveyor including a continuous, endless belt member driven in aclockwise direction about a pair of support shafts via an adjustableelectric motor 13 or the like.

A pair of steering rolls 6 are each fixedly mounted relative to therespective conveyor assemblies 5, with the pair of steering rolls 6forming a substantially bevel or V-shaped guidance assembly capable ofsteering the separate bars of dough away from each other and along theseparate conveyors 5, as represented by the dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and2. This ensures that each bar of dough is only transported by itsrespective conveyor assembly 5, thereby preventing the dough bars frombeing broken through inadvertent overlapping of both conveyors 5. Whilea pair of separate steering rolls 6 are shown in FIG. 2, it isconsidered within the scope of the present invention to employ anynumber of steering rolls for steering the various dough bars along theirrespective courses. Each steering roll 6 may also include an automaticmechanism for sprinkling flour or the like onto a respective dough baras it passes adjacent to the respective steering roll.

A further conveyor assembly is positioned adjacent a forward end portionof each conveyor assembly 5 for receiving the dough bars as they passfrom each of the inclined moving conveyor assemblies 5. The furtherconveyor assembly includes a plurality of vertically stacked conveyors7-10, each of which extends in a substantially horizontal directionparallel to portions of framework 1. In particular, conveyor assembly 7is positioned adjacent to and slightly below the forward end of theconveyor assembly 5, with conveyor assembly 7 including a pair ofendless belt conveyors each aligned with one of the two conveyor beltsforming conveyor assembly 5. Positioned vertically beneath conveyorassembly 7 is a further conveyor assembly 8 which includes a pair ofendless belt conveyors each of which is substantially vertically alignedwith and extends substantially parallel to one of the conveyor beltsforming conveyor assembly 7. In a like manner, a conveyor assembly 9 ispositioned substantially beneath conveyor assembly 8 and a conveyorassembly 10 is positioned substantially vertically beneath conveyorassembly 9. Each of the conveyor assemblies 9 and 10 also comprises apair of parallel extending endless belt conveyors. Each endless conveyorbelt forming the conveyor assemblies 7-10 is mounted on a pair of spacedshafts. Furthermore, the vertical position of the various stackedconveyor assemblies is selectively adjustable for a reason which willbecome clear.

The vertically stacked endless belt conveyor assemblies 7-10 aresupported by support surfaces which may be formed of a variety ofmaterials, including, but not limited to, steel or plastic sheets. Inaddition, the conveyor assemblies 8 and 9 are arranged to movecontinuously and transversely back and forth along a pair of slidingvalves 11 extending therebetween, with valves 11 driven by a crankmechanism schematically indicated by the numeral 12.

During operation, the bars of dough pass from the forward end of each ofthe conveyor assemblies 5 onto the pair of belt conveyors formingconveyor assembly 7 and are transported away from conveyor assemblies 5in a direction extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axisX--X through the machine assembly. For purposes of explanation only, thedirection of travel along conveyor assembly 7 will be considered as aforward direction. After reaching an end of conveyor assembly 7positioned remotely from conveyor assembly 5, the spaced dough bars droponto an overlapping portion of conveyor assembly 8. Because conveyorassembly 8 is arranged to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction asopposed to the clockwise rotation of conveyor assembly 7, the dough barsare carried by conveyor assembly 8 into the space defined betweenconveyors 7 and 8. As a result, confronting belt portions of conveyorassemblies 7 and 8 contact and transport the dough bars in a directiontoward conveyor assemblies 5, which for purposes of explanation only,will be referred to as a backward direction.

Once they reach the end of conveyor assembly 8 positioned nearest toconveyor assembly 5, the dough bars then drop onto an extended oroverlapping portion of conveyor assembly 10. Because endless beltconveyor assembly 10 is arranged to rotate in a clockwise directionsimilar to conveyor assembly 7, it functions to once again transport thedough bars in a forward direction away from conveyor assembly 5. As thedough bars again move in a forward direction, they contact a confrontingbelt portion of conveyor assembly 9. Endless belt conveyor assembly 9 isarranged to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about a pair ofspaced sprockets or the like. As a result, the confronting portions ofboth conveyor assemblies 9 and 10 function to contact and transport thebars of dough in the forward direction.

As sliding valves 11 are driven by crank mechanism 12 between conveyors8 and 9, they force the confronting portions of belt conveyors 7, 8 and8, 9 to knead and roll the bars of dough passing therebetween. Ineffect, the dough bars are rolled and worked substantially into theirfinal configurations while being continuously transported through thevertically stacked conveyor assemblies 7-10. Each of the belts employedin the conveyor assemblies 7-10 may be formed of a textile or plasticmaterial, provided it exhibits sufficient flexibility when contacted bysliding valves 11. Furthermore, because the spacing between the variousvertically aligned belts can be selectively adjusted by relocating thesupport shafts, the pressure of the confronting belt portions on thedough bars is selectively adjustable.

A plurality of separate electric motors are employed for driving theseparate, vertically stacked conveyor assemblies, wherein the electricmotor 13 which drives conveyor assembly may also drive conveyor assembly7. Likewise, an electric motor 14 may drive conveyor assembly 8 and anelectric motor 15 may drive conveyor assembly 10. A separate controlassembly associated with each electric motor allows an operator toseparately adjust the speed of a particular motor and hence the speed ofthe conveyor assembly driven by the motor. Because confronting surfacesof belt conveyors assemblies 7 and 8 both engage opposite sides of thedough bars, it is necessary to drive conveyor assemblies 7 and 8 atequal speeds. Likewise, the speeds of conveyor assemblies 9 and 10 arealso maintained at a level substantially equal to one another. However,due to the fact that the bars of dough stretch as they pass through thestacked conveyor assemblies, it is necessary to maintain conveyorassemblies 9 and 10 at a slightly faster speed than conveyor assemblies7 and 8. The stacked conveyor assemblies function to systematically rolland work the bars of dough substantially into their finalconfigurations.

Positioned adjacent to a forward end of conveyor assembly 10 is aseparate feeding conveyor assembly 16 which also extends substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis X--X through the machine assembly.Conveyor assembly 16 includes a pair of endless belt conveyorspositioned substantially side by side, with each belt conveyor having arear end portion aligned with and positioned slightly vertically beneatha forward end portion of one of the conveyors forming conveyor assembly10. A pair of steering members 17 are fixedly mounted above conveyorassembly 16, with each steering member 17 extending substantiallydiagonally across one of the belt conveyors 16. The steering members 17extend toward one another to form a bevel or wedge-shaped guidanceassembly which functions to steer the spaced dough bars toward oneanother as they are transported with conveyor assembly 16. In apreferred embodiment, conveyor assembly 16, may also be driven byelectric motor 15.

A braiding or weaving device 18 is supported at an outlet station whichis mounted on a forward end of the machine assembly adjacent to conveyorassembly 16, for a purpose to be explained in detail hereafter. Braidingdevice 18 includes a pair of rotatable funnel-shaped steering members19, each of which is substantially aligned with one of the beltconveyors forming conveyor assembly 16. Furthermore, the funnel-shapedmembers 19 are each positioned such that their longitudinal axes extendsubstantially parallel to one another and in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to longitudinal axis X--X passing through the machineassembly. Members 19 are mechanically connected to one another by a pairof gears 20 mounted on each member 19 and having engaging teeth as bestshown in FIGS. 3-5, wherein the gears 20 function to rotate thefunnel-shaped members 19 in opposite directions about their longitudinalaxes when driven by an attached electric motor as shown in FIG. 1.

Each funnel-shaped member 19 includes a relatively large steeringaperature extending completely therethrough, allowing a bar of dough topass easily through the funnel-shaped member. Each funnel-shaped memberfurther includes an exit nozzle or mouthpiece 21 inclined at an angle tothe longitudinal axis of the respective member 19. Preferably, theinclined mouthpieces 21 of the two members 19 form an angle ofsubstantially 90° with respect to one another when oppositely disposed.Positioned adjacent and slightly beneath the nozzle-like mouthpieces 21of the members 19 is a further conveyor assembly 22. Conveyor assembly22 is arranged at a substantially perpendicular angle to thelongitudinal axis X--X of the machine. Conveyor assembly 22 is alsoslightly inclined or sloped in a vertically downward direction away frombraiding device 18. Finally, a further conveyor assembly 23 is alignedwith and positioned adjacent to a vertically lower, forward end portionof conveyor assembly 22. Preferably, conveyor assembly 23 also isinclined or sloped in a vertically downward direction away from braidingdevice 18 as best shown in FIG. 3.

During operation, a separate bar of dough enters one of the oppositelyrotating funnel-shaped members 19 from one of the belt conveyors formingconveyor assembly 16. The bars of dough travel through the respectivenozzle-like mouthpiece 21 and are laid onto the moving conveyor assembly22, with each bar forming a continuous spiral. Because the nozzle-likemouthpieces 21 form an angle of substantially 90° and rotate in oppositedirections, the dough bars are continuously interlocked one on top ofthe other, forming a continuous roll bearing a great resemblance to abraided roll of dough. The final form, as well as the thickness of thecontinuously braided roll is selectively adjusted by merely changing theratio between the speed of rotation of the funnel-like members 19 andthe speed of conveyor 22. Furthermore, the final form of the braidedroll can also be altered by adjusting the relative position of thefunnel-shaped members 19 to each other, thereby adjusting the positionof exit mouthpieces 21.

Preferably, conveyor assembly 22 is driven at a speed which is slightlyless than the speed of conveyor assembly 16 in order not to damage thecontinuous roll formed from the spiral-shaped dough bars resting onconveyor assembly 22. Conveyor 23 functions to transport the braidedroll of biscuit dough to a yet further work station, wherein the doughmay be cut and baked into biscuits or the like by apparatus which makeup no part of the present invention. It is preferable that conveyor 23move at a speed which is less than the speed of conveyor 22 in order totighten the braided roll in its longitudinal direction.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention employs two barsof dough, it is within the scope of the present invention for themachine to employ only a single bar of dough or any member of bars ofdough. For example, if three bars of dough are initially formed in thedressing device, the final roll will have three braided strands. It isalso noted that the dough strands may be formed as separate, continuousspirals by employing several adjacent, yet separate funnel-shapedmembers each having a separate mouthpiece, whereby biscuits each twistedinto a circle are produced in several rows by merely cutting the spiralat certain points. Furthermore, while pairs of conveyors have beendescribed as forming the various conveyor assemblies, it is consideredwithin the scope of the present invention to form each conveyor assemblyfrom a single conveyor or a plurality of separate conveyors positionedside by side.

The present invention is not to be limited to the above describedembodiments, but is to be limited only by the scope of the followingclaims.

What I claim is:
 1. A machine assembly for producing continuous rolls ofuniformly sized bakery products such as biscuits and the like, andcomprising:a machine framework supporting an inlet work station and anoutlet work station spaced from one another; said inlet work stationincluding a dressing means having at least one outlet nozzle for formingat least one continuous bar of dough; said outlet work station includingsteering funnel means for shaping said at least one continuous bar ofdough into a continuous spiral; a conveyor assembly providing acontinuous passageway moving in a direction parallel to a longitudinalaxis of said continuous bar of dough between said inlet work station andsaid outlet work station, thereby transporting a portion of saidcontinuous bar of dough to said outlet work station while simultaneouslytransporting a further portion of said continuous bar of dough from saidinlet work station; and means for kneading and rolling said at least onecontinuous bar of dough during passage between said inlet and outletwork stations, respectively.
 2. A machine assembly for producing lengthyrolls of bakery products such as biscuits and the like, and comprising:amachine framework having spaced inlet and outlet work stations eachsupported thereon; said inlet work station including means forconverting a quantity of dough-like material into at least onecontinuous bar of dough of predetermined length; said outlet workstation including means for forming a continuous spiral in said at leastone continuous bar of dough; and conveyor means for transporting said atleast one continuous bar of dough between said inlet and outlet workstations, said conveyor means comprising an array of vertically stackedconveyor assemblies arranged between said inlet and outlet workstations, each of said conveyor assemblies forming a passageway movingin a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said atleast one continuous bar of dough, wherein at least one conveyorassembly passageway transports a portion of said continuous bar of doughtoward said inlet work station and a further, vertically spaced conveyorassembly passageway simultaneously transports a further portion of saidcontinuous bar of dough toward said outlet work station, therebykneading and rolling said at least one continuous bar substantially intoits final cross-sectional configuration.
 3. A machine assembly accordingto claim 2, wherein said conveyor means further comprises at least oneconveyor extending between said arrangement of vertically stackedconveyor assemblies and said outlet work station.
 4. A machine assemblyaccording to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the vertically stackedconveyor assemblies are adjustable in the vertical direction relative toeach other to selectively adjust the size of the continuous passagewayextending therebetween.
 5. A machine assembly according to claim 2,wherein sliding valve means are arranged between at least one pair ofvertically stacked conveyor assemblies for rolling said verticallystacked conveyor assemblies against said at least one continuous bar ofdough passing adjacent to said valve means.
 6. A machine assemblyaccording to claim 2, wherein the speed each of said plurality ofvertically stacked conveyor assemblies is selectively adjustable tocompensate for changes in size of said bars of dough.
 7. A machineassembly according to claim 2, wherein said conveyor means furthercomprises at least one conveyor assembly extending between said inletwork station and an inlet of said passageway extending through saidarrangement of vertically stacked conveyor assemblies, said conveyorassembly being inclined in upward vertical direction from a horizontalplane extending said inlet work station.
 8. A machine assembly accordingto claim 7, wherein a pair of steering rolls are fixedly attached tosaid machine assembly and are arranged adjacent to said inclinedconveyor assembly,said pair of steering rolls forming a wedge-shapedconfiguration wherein the distance between said pair of steering rollsincreases as the distance from said inlet work station increases, withsaid pair of steering rolls directing said at least one bar of doughtoward a side of said inclined conveyor assembly.
 9. A machine assemblyaccording to claim 8, wherein said inlet work station means comprises adressing device including a pair of outlet nozzles for forming a pair ofseparate, continuous bars of dough, wherein said pair of steering rollsguide said pair of continuous dough bars toward opposite sides of saidinclined conveyor assembly.
 10. A machine assembly according to claim 9,wherein said inclined conveyor assembly comprises a pair of endless beltconveyors positioned side-by-side, wherein each belt conveyor supports aseparate, continuous dough bar.
 11. A machine assembly according toclaim 9, wherein said pair of steering rolls include means forselectively sprinkling flour and the like onto said continuous doughbars passing adjacent to said pair of steering rolls.
 12. A machineassembly according to claim 2, wherein said inlet work station meanscomprises a dressing device having at least one inlet and a plurality ofspaced outlet nozzles, wherein each outlet nozzle ejects a separate barof said dough like material.
 13. A machine assembly according to claim12, wherein said outlet work station means comprises a device having atleast one steering funnel for each bar of dough-like material formed bysaid dressing device,wherein each of said steering funnels is rotatableabout a main longitudinal axis extending therethrough.
 14. A machineassembly according to claim 13, wherein the longitudinal axes of saidsteering funnels extend in a substantially vertical direction.
 15. Amachine assembly according to claim 13, wherein each steering funnelincludes an outlet portion inclined with respect to the mainlongitudinal axis extending through said respective steering funnel. 16.A machine assembly according to claim 15, wherein said inclined outletportions of oppositely disposed steering funnels form a substantiallyperpendicular angle to one another.
 17. A machine assembly according toclaim 15, wherein a further conveyor assembly is positioned adjacent toand slightly beneath said inclined outlet portions of said steeringfunnels for receiving said continuous spirals of dough from each of saidrotating steering funnels.
 18. A machine assembly according to claim 17,wherein said further conveyor assembly is inclined in a verticallydownward direction from a horizontal plane which extends through saidoutlet work station for transporting said continuously spiraled barsaway from said rotating steering funnels.
 19. A machine assemblyaccording to claim 17, wherein a separate gear member encircles and isattached to each steering funnel, with the gear members engaging oneanother to rotate said attached steering funnels in opposite directionsabout their respective longitudinal axes, thereby ejecting acontinuously braided roll onto said further conveyor assembly.
 20. Amachine assembly according to claim 17, wherein separate conveyorassembly is positioned adjacent to said further conveyor assembly fortransporting said braided roll to a further work station, with saidseparate conveyor assembly moving at a speed which is slower than thespeed of said further conveyor assembly to prevent said continuous rollfrom breaking.